To The Reader’s Forum:

This article is written with sadness. For many of my ancestors supported the Republican Party ever since the days of Lincoln. What has happened to the GOP?

We need a strong conservative party and a strong liberal party! Both parties should present their views forcibly, with civility and transparency. Everyone should be willing to work together.

A turning point has been reached! Recently the Republican National Committee described the January 6th attack on our nation’s Capital Building as “legitimate political discourse.” Absurd poppycock!

The former president is not going away. He will do everything in his power to return to the presidency in 2024. As he stated, he will pardon those individuals who participated in the January 6th insurrection. Republican Party members and politicians should decide if they pay fealty to the former president, or if they are ready to move on.

There are politicians and party members who have recently criticized the former president, the fringe who adamantly support him, the flip-floppers who try to appease him, and the many politicians who have remained silent, out of fear in losing their own election.

What do we, as concerned citizens, do? We must become informed, separating truths from the untruths, and become knowledgeable about the positions taken by our national, state, and local officials. We must inform them of our convictions.

This year, Republicans have approved new state laws giving them unprecedented control of how elections will be run and how votes will be counted. More states are now pondering laws to achieve more control over elections.

Warning! Those elected in this November s elections as Congress members, governors, secretary of states, attorney generals, state legislators, county board of elections, mayors, local officials, and even school boards, will have a great role in determining our future.

To be clear, regardless of political party, if national, state, or local politicians, supported by party members, use lies, conspiracy theories, authoritarianism. nativism, subterfuge. gerrymandering, voter suppression, manipulation of people and systems, and the spreading of fear, our citizens should use the November voting process to prevent them from being elected or re-elected.

, Lakewood